INDIA
One India
Written by: Vicky Nanjappa Updated: Saturday, March 4, 2017
The case of Kerala priest Robin Vadakkumchery who was finally caught after the victim became pregnant reminds me of the movie Spotlight. In that movie it is shown how the Boston Archdiocese was aware of instances of sexual abuse by priests. It also shows how influence was wielded on the police, media as well the judiciary to hush up the matter.
In Kerala, the public anger is clear against the Catholic Church after allegations of the shielding the pastor accused of raping a minor girl cropped up. It was a call that was made to a helpline which led to the tracing of the new-born child to a church-run orphanage.
Allegations of a cover up cropped up during the course of the investigation. It was found that the pastor had convinced the father of the victim to take the blame.
The Kerala police must probe further into this case. The victim gave birth at a hospital and then the baby was sent to an orphanage. Who were the persons who abetted this cover up? It was all hush-hush until that anonymous call was made by a Good Samaritan to the government child helpline.
The police say that in such cases, the victims go directly to the higher ups in the church. “They should come to the police station instead. The problem is that they fear social stigma, and hence seek recourse in the church itself. There are also several cases where the victims have remained quiet about it and suffer in silence. This should change and if victims and their parents go to the police, then the problem could be sorted out,” a police officer says.
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